0712 靈性上追求自我的教會
…直等到我們眾人…滿有基督長成的身量。《以弗所書 4:13》
和好意味着恢復整個人類與神之間的關係，使其回歸到神所設計的樣式；這就是耶穌基督在救贖中所做的。當教會變得自我追求，只關心自身組織的發展時，它就不再是屬靈的了。根據神的計劃，人類與神和好意味着不僅在我們個人的生活中實現祂，也在我們群體的生活中實現祂。耶穌基督差遣使徒和教師正是為了這個目的——使基督的集體身體和許多肢體組成的教會得以形成並為人所知。我們在這裡不是為了發展我們自己的屬靈生命，或者享受安靜的屬靈退修；我們在這裡是為了要完全認識【實現】耶穌基督，為了建造祂的身體這個目的。
我是在建立基督的身體，還是只關心我自己的個人發展？最關鍵的是我個人與耶穌基督的關係——「…使我可以認識基督…」（腓立比書3:10）。要實現神對我的完美設計，就需要我完全的降服——將自己完全交託給祂。每當我只想為自己追求什麼時，這關係就扭曲了。一旦我承認並理解我並沒有真正關心實現耶穌基督祂自己，而只關心知道祂為我所做的事情時，我就會遭受極大的羞辱。
我的目標是神祂自己，不是喜樂也不是平安，
甚至不是祝福，而是祂自己，我的神。
我是用這個標準還是用其他標準來衡量我的生命呢？
來自章伯斯的智慧
衡量我們為神而做的公開活動的價值，其標準是我們與祂私人的深交……我們必須把我們的帳篷搭在總是能與神一起安靜靈修的地方，無論我們與世界在一起的時間有多麼喧鬧。《竭誠為主》， 1 月 6 日
0712 The Spiritually Self-Seeking Church
…till we all come…to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ… —Ephesians 4:13
Reconciliation means the restoring of the relationship between the entire human race and God, putting it back to what God designed it to be. This is what Jesus Christ did in redemption. The church ceases to be spiritual when it becomes self-seeking, only interested in the development of its own organization. The reconciliation of the human race according to His plan means realizing Him not only in our lives individually, but also in our lives collectively. Jesus Christ sent apostles and teachers for this very purpose— that the corporate Person of Christ and His church, made up of many members, might be brought into being and made known. We are not here to develop a spiritual life of our own, or to enjoy a quiet spiritual retreat. We are here to have the full realization of Jesus Christ, for the purpose of building His body.
Am I building up the body of Christ, or am I only concerned about my own personal development? The essential thing is my personal relationship with Jesus Christ— “…that I may know Him…” (Philippians 3:10). To fulfill God’s perfect design for me requires my total surrender— complete abandonment of myself to Him. Whenever I only want things for myself, the relationship is distorted. And I will suffer great humiliation once I come to acknowledge and understand that I have not really been concerned about realizing Jesus Christ Himself, but only concerned with knowing what He has done for me.
My goal is God Himself, not joy nor peace,
Nor even blessing, but Himself, my God.
Am I measuring my life by this standard or by something less?
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private profound communion we have with Him … We have to pitch our tents where we shall always have quiet times with God, however noisy our times with the world may be. My Utmost for His Highest, January 6, 736 R